Friday, July 31, 2009

Noted voice actor and screenwriter Renato Izzo died in Rome, Italy on July 30th. He was the head of a family of actors and voice actors such as Simona, Rossella, Fiamma, and Giuppu Izzo. He had just celebrated 60 years in show business when he turned 80 years-old on June 15th. He was married to his lovely wife Liliana for 56 years with whom he founded Pumas which is a historical society dedicated to cinema voice dubbing.

Izzo had dubbed more than 1000 film and along with Alberto Lionello, Ferruccio Amendola, Pino Locchi and Maria Laura Baccarini was one of the biggest names of that generation of Italian voice actors. He was the Italian voice of such noted actors as Gregory Peck, Paul Newman, and Alain Delon

The story is based on Robert Luis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island”. An old fellow Colonel Bob Ford (Folco Lulli) stays at an inn, a hole indeed, where he hides his treasure map because outlaws are pursuing him. When the bandits arrive at the inn, old Bob tries to escape but he falls off the roof and dies while the bandits set fire to the inn. A young boy Tommy knows where the map is hidden and he tries to get it but he faints from the heat of the fire. A newcomer Pat Jordan (Richard Harrison) saves the boy from the fire and locates the map. Chasquito (Gilbert Roland) plays the main role of the film, he is the veteran tracker and Latin lover, when a rooster crows, Chasquito appears in a cart and kisses at once the lovely Yugoslavian actress Marta (Dominique Boschero), the inn’s waitress. Pat Jordan, disguised as a gunfighter, is in reality a priest and he wants to recover the treasure stolen by the old Colonel from a monastery, so he hires Chasquito as a guide to take the group to Sierra Blanca. Chasquito wants the treasure for himself, but the bandits are also after it. The desired chest is inside a stunning grotto, by a river with waterfalls. Chasquito uses a trap to kill the two groups of bandits: when they are around the opened chest of the treasure, like flies to honey, he shoots and kills them without pity. There is an unexpected and not ethical end, the priest Pat returns to the monastery with only $5,000 in his pocket after advising little Tommy to accompany the rich Chasquito to share the treasure.

Born Donald Patrick Murray on July 31, 1929 in Hollywood, California, Murray attended East Rockaway High School in Long Island, New York where he played football and track, was a member of the student government and glee club and joined the Alpha Phi Chapter of the Omega Gamma Delta Fraternity. From high school he went on to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

Murray had a long and varied career in film and television, but is perhaps best known for his role as Sid Fairgate in the long-running prime time soap opera “Knots Landing” from 1979 to 1981. He was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor in “Bus Stop” (1956) in which he co-starred with Marilyn Monroe. He also played the ape-hating Governor Breck in 1972's “Conquest of the Planet of the Apes”. In addition to acting, Murray also directed a film based on the book “The Cross and the Switchblade”, starring Pat Boone and Erik Estrada in 1970, and scripted two episodes of Knots Landing in 1980. Murray also starred with Otis Young in the ground breaking ABC western television series "The Outcasts" featuring an interracial bounty hunter team in the post-Civil War West (1968-69). Murray was married to actress Hope Lange from 1956-1961. Don Murray appeared in one European Western “Kid Rodelo” in 1965. Today we celebrate his 80th birthday.

Mario Bava was born on July 31, 1914 in Sanremo, Italy and is remembered as one of the greatest names from the “Golden Age” of Italian horror films. Mario Bava's first ambition was to become a painter. Unable to turn out paintings at a profitable rate, he went into his father's business, working as an assistant to other Italian cinematographers like Massimo Terzano, while also offering assistance to his father who headed the special effects department at Benito Mussolini's film factory, the Instituto LUCE.Mario became a cinematographer in his own right in 1939, shooting two short films with Roberto Rossellini. He made his feature debut in the early 1940s. Bava's camerawork was an instrumental factor in developing the screen personas of such stars of the period as Gina Lollobrigida, Steve Reeves and Aldo Fabrizi. Bava co-directed his first genre film in 1958: Le morte viene dallo spazio (The Day the Sky Exploded), the first Italian science fiction film. Because he had no earlier credited experience as a director, it was credited solely to Paolo Heusch. In 1960 he directed Black Sunday, which made a star out of Barbara Steele. His use of light and dark in black and white films is widely acclaimed along with his use of color in films such as I tre volti della paura (Black Sabbath) (1963) and La Frusta e il corpo (The Whip and the Body) (1963). His work has proved very influential: Bava directed what is called the first Italian giallo film, La ragazza che sapeva troppo (The Girl Who Knew Too Much) (1963), and his 1965 sci-fi horror Terrore nello spazio (Planet of the Vampires) was a probable influence on Alien (1979). On several of his movies, Bava was credited as John M. Old. Mario is the father of director Lamberto Bava. Mario also directed three Spaghetti Westerns “The Road to Fort Alamo” (1964), “Savage Gringo” (1966) and “Roy Colt and Winchester Jack” (1970). Mario Bava died on April 25, 1980 in Rome. Today we remember him on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

The IMDb and Legends of the Cinema are both reporting that assistant director/actor Tony Brandt died on July 25th in Padova, Italy. He was born Antonio Brandt on June 13, 1930 in Rome, Italy and is often credited with co-director status on Monte Hellman’s 1978 “China 9, Liberty 37” this was only done for co-production reasons and his name was listed for tax purposes only and was never involved as director but did appear as an actor. Mr. Brandt appeared as an actor and assistant director in several other European westerns such as “The Arizona Kid” (1971), “A Fistful of Dynamite” (1971), “Massacre at Fort Holman” (1972), “China 9, Liberty 37 (1978)

Dolores Berejano Alba, the daughter of actress Josefina Berejano, was born on March 5, 1914 in Buenos Aires, Argentina where the family had emigrated to. She studied geography, history and literature in her homeland. In the mid-1930s she moved with her family to Spain. It was there she began to appear in theatrical roles for fun in such companies as Membrives Lola, Milagos Leal, Valeriano León and Aurora Redondo. Tota appeared on radio before she made her debut in film in 1955 in “Suspenso en Comunismo” directed by Eduardo Manzanos. She decided to play it safe and make a long secure career in supporting roles. She then went in to television roles during the 1960s and ‘70s appearing as a regular presenter on Spanish TV “Estudio 1”. She also did some film dubbing for imported films needing Spanish voices. By the time Spaghetti Western film making had arrived in Spain Tota Alba was in her 50s and her film appearances were as mother figures. She passed away in Madrid, Spain in 1983.

Bolek and Lolek are two Polish cartoon characters from the TV animated series by the same title (Bolek i Lolek in Polish). They are based on Władysław Nehrebecki's sons, named Jan and Roman, and were partially created by German-born Alfred Ledwig before being developed by Władysław Nehrebecki and Leszek Mech. The series is about two young brothers and their fun and sometimes silly adventures which often involve spending a lot of time outdoors. They first appeared in an animated film in 1964. This particular DVD is a collection of several TV episodes about their imaginary adventures out West.

Italian composer Gian Piero Reverberi was born on July 29, 1939 in Genoa, Italy he is a the brother of composer Gianfranco Reverberi. Gian Piero obtained diplomas in piano and composition from the Paganini Conservatory in Genoa. He then worked in the media composing TV themes, pop, rock-n-roll songs and two Spaghetti Western scores, “A Colt in the Hand of the Devil” and “Viva Django” both in 1967. He also created the Rondo Veneziano ensemble and often works with his brother and fellow composer Gianfranco.

As a producer Gian Piero for New Trolls and Le Orme rock bands in the ‘60s and ‘70s. He has also produced several albums over the years.
In 1979, he founded the Rondò Veneziano Chamber Orchestra, which he has led ever since, having been the main composer, arranger, and conductor of the group. They play original instruments, incorporating a modern rock-style rhythm section comprising synthesizer, bass guitar and drums. The group, specializing in latter Baroque music, has produced 70 albums and sold more than 20 million copies in 29 years. Today we celebrate Gian Piero Reverberi’s 70th birthday.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Born Woodrow Wilson Woolwine Strode on July 28, 1914, the towering (6'5") black athlete together with fellow U.C.L.A. All-American Kenny Washington, successfully broke the NFL's "color line" in 1946, when he signed with the L.A. Rams. Strode went on to play with the Canadian Football League, then attracted a TV following as a pro wrestler. Though he'd made an isolated movie appearance in 1941, Strode's film career didn't really take off until the 1950s. At first, little in the way of acting was required; it was enough for him to convey strong, silent dignity in such fleeting roles as the “King of Ethiopia” in “The Ten Commandents” (1956). Like many other black athletes-turned-actors of the era, Strode was often called upon to play African warriors and tribal chieftains. This he did in a variety of small parts on the 1952 TV series “Ramar of the Jungle”; as Lothar on an obscure 1954 video version of “Mandrake the Magician”; and in the 1958 feature film “Tarzan’s Fight for Life”. A close friend of director John Ford, Strode received some of his best acting opportunities in Ford’s films of the 1950s and 1960s — notably “Sergeant Rutledge” (1960), in which he starred as a black cavalry soldier unjustly charged with rape and murder. He was also well-served in Stanley Kubrick’s “Spartacus” (1960) in the role of Draba, the gladiator who refuses to kill Kirk Douglas in the film's pivotal scene. During the 1960s, Strode was a familiar presence in Spaghetti Westerns such "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968) as “Boot Hill” (1969), “The Unholy Four” (1969), “The Deserter” (1971) and “Keoma” (1975) and action films filmed in the U.S. and Europe. In 1968, he starred in “Black Jesus”, an Italian-made film based on the life of African activist Patrice Lumumba. In 1990, Strode published his candid, life-affirming autobiography Goal Dust. Woody Strode continued acting up until his death at age 80, accepting such prominent roles as the Storyteller in Mario Van Peeble’s “Posse” (1993) and Charlie Moonlight in the Sharon Stone/Gene Hackman western “The Quick and the Dead” (1995). Woody Strode died of lung cancer on December 31, 1994 in Glendora, California. Today we remember Woody Strode on what would have been his 95th birthday.

Myra Belle Shirley’s compelling love for two men forces her to take up the life of an outlaw and she becomes the legendary Belle Starr. Losing a game of poker with Larry Blackie (Eastman), Belle Starr (Martinelli) is offered a final game to retrieve her lost money if she’ll put up her body for the pot. She loses the game on purpose by discarding her winning hand. Leaving herself at the mercy of Blackie and his bed, from here on the film concentrates on her relationship between the pair, sometimes loving, sometimes rough but always a rivalry. The first half of the film is in flashbacks showing how the relationship developed. The second half is real time with the pair pitted against each other in trying to steal a load of diamonds. Also developed is Starr’s relationship with Cole Harvey (Woods) who she uses as a substitute for Blackie when he’s not around. The ending is pure Spaghetti Western as Belle is faced with running away with Cole or rescuing Blackie who is in the hands of the Pinkerton’s and being tortured for information.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

National Day of the American Cowboy will be July 25, 2009, according to a resolution passed by the U.S. Senate on June 9.

The bill pays tribute to the enduring legacy of the cowboy in America and the contributions cowboys continue to make to our nation today.

National Day of the American Cowboy was started in 2005 as a way to contribute to the preservation of America's rich cowboy heritage. To celebrate you can dress like a cowboy, host a hoedown, attend a rodeo, go horseback riding, or curl up on the couch to watch your favorite Westerns.

Bounty Hunter Bud ‘Charity’Jenkins is hired by the Government to protect a shipment of one million dollars meant for railroad construction. But town boss/bank owner Mr. Costello has a scheme to pocket the money for himself. Meanwhile, a wanted man posing as a Reverend (with a talking parrot named George Washington!) shows up in town, as does Mr. Costello's prim and proper sister Maria (Rosalba Neri). Needless to say, this complicates everyone's plans a little more. Another comedy western with a talking parrot, need I say more?

Born Lynne Maria Frederick on July 25, 1954 in Hillingdon, England her film career began in 1970 with such early appearances in “Nicholas and Alexandria” (1971), “Henry VIII and his Six Wives” and “The Amazing Mr. Blunden”, “Vampire Circus” all (1972), “Phase IV” (1974), “Voyage of the Damned” (1976). She became the fourth and final wife of the actor and comedian Peter Sellers, and was criticized by many of his contemporaries who regarded her as an opportunist who married him for his money, though others noted that Sellers was a womanizer and actively pursued her. This was given further credence when she re-married only six months after his death. Her last screen role was opposite Sellers in the 1979 comedy “The Prisoner of Zenda”. Although Sellers was reportedly in the process of excluding Frederick from his will a week before he died of a heart attack in 1980, she inherited almost his entire estate worth an estimated £4.5 million. By contrast, Sellers left his two children by actress Anne Howe £800 pounds each. Frederick won nearly $1.5 million in a lawsuit against the makers of the posthumous Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), claiming the film tarnished her late husband's memory. When Lynne Frederick died, her mother Iris inherited everything, including all of the income and royalties from Sellers' work. Upon Iris' death the estate reverts to Cassie, Lynne Frederick's daughter by her last husband, Barry Unger. Lynn Frederick appeared in two Euro-westerns during her career, “Red Coat” – 1974, and “Four of the Apocalypse” 1975. Today we remember her on what would have been her 55th birthday.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Inspired by classic Westerns such as Johnny Guitar and The Iron Horse, the film focuses on the building of a railroad out west. A moving story of revenge, love triangles and shoot-outs, Once Upon a Time in the West is famed for its languid yet mesmerising style, full-screen close-ups and magnificent wide-angles. Leone's milestone movie frequently tops many favourite-films-of-all-time lists and reached cult status for its powerful and celebrated Ennio Morricone score.

Opens 24 July at Curzon Mayfair & BFI Southbank.For more information and to watch the trailer, for further details see the following link:http://www.bfi.org.uk/whatson/bfi_around_the_uk/film_releases/once_upon_a_time_in_the_west/?utm_source=cinemaretro&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=onceuponatime

Italian character actor/stuntman Roberto Alessandri aka Robert Alexander has been on screen since the early 1950s. He hit his stride in the mid 1960’s to late 1970s with some 15 film appearances. Never playing more than a henchman or background saloon patron his face was seen in six Spaghetti Westerns during this time. He also would appear in ten Bud Spencer/ Terence Hill films. During the late ‘70s he became a stunt master.

In the struggle for Independence of Mexico, emerged a man who would go down in history as something between reality and legend. The called him “El Zorro” (the Fox).It is 1847, the place California, a revolutionary general named Don Esteban detains a coach and arrests its two passengers: Marcel, an entomologist, and Patricio, who is on his way to the Governor’s palace to be the new butler. Patricio eloquently induces the rebel leader to let them go. Soon after, Don Esteban captures the palace and orders the Governor and his attendants to be shot, and again Patricio’s persuasiveness is effective, for the general agrees not to execute anyone until at least the following morning, and when morning comes, only Count Martinez is ordered to be shot for the time being. Just in the nick of time the Count is rescued by Zorro. The general then gives orders to execute the Governor, but yet again Zorro appears and save him too.

Suspecting that Patricio is the audacious Zorro, the general has him imprisoned, but another feat by Zorro takes place and Patricio is released. Now the people have had time to arm themselves and attack the palace, led by Zorro. The rebels are beaten and Don Esteban is killed. Zorro removes his mask to reveal… Patricio! Marcel explains that during his jailing, he had put on Zorro’s clothes to deceive the rebels.

*Tony Russel was in the running for the role of Zorro for the Walt Disney TV production but lost out to Guy Williams. Being an excellent swordsman Russel was given several roles during the series run. He was the perfect choice to portray the character when he went to Italy to continue his career. While there Tony organized the Italian dubbing industry whereby the same dubbing actor dubbed specific actors so there voices always sounded the same. Many American actors did dubbing work for Tony when they were in Rome and were looking for work between films.

Nerio Bernardi was born on July 23, 1899 in Bologna, Italy. He attended college studying mathematics and medicine before falling for the lure of the cinema. He made his theatrical debut in Rome under the direction of Lucio D’Amber in the 1922-1923 season. He entered films before that in 1919 making many appearances in Italy and other European countries. During World War II he fled to Spain and made so film appearances there. He returned to Italy in 1952. Returning under the alias Nerik Berkoff he made several Zorro films and one Spaghetti Western “Wanted Johnny Texas” in 1967. Today we remember Nerio Bernardi on what would have been his 110 birthday.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Returning from the Shalako Fort on the dirt road back to San Jose, you will see on your right a long beach facing the Mediterranean Sea with a small boat house in the middle. This area is called Playa de lo Genoveses. Park here off the road and walk to the boat house you will be standing on the location of Bailey’s (Christopher Lee) hacienda from “Hannie Caulder”. Here is where he made Hannie’s gun while she (Raquel Welch) and Thomas Luther Price (Robert Culp) played with the children and walked along this same beach until confronted by Mexican bandits.

This film could be based on the true adventures of its star Klaus Kinski. A crazed, sex fiend sets up a bank heist but when things go wrong he goes off the deep end and starts killing people. He goes after a trio of killers who have the stolen money. Every woman he encounters he wants to molest and rape immediately. He keeps tracking the men and leaves a path of destruction behind him until his own greed does him in. There must have been some structure of a story in the beginning and then they just turned Kinski loose and let him do whatever he wanted that day. The brutality against the women is pretty hard to watch after awhile and Kinski’s death doesn’t come soon enough.

Monday, July 20, 2009

Paolo Levi was an Italian screenwriter who was born on July 20, 1919 in Genoa, Italy. He was active in films from the early 1950s until the early 1980s. He wrote such films as “Farewell to Hong Kong” (1963) and “OK Connery” (1967), also the TV mini-series “Jekyll”. He co-wrote the screenplay for one Spaghetti Western, 1967’s “Up the MacGregors” under the pseudonym Paul Levy. Paolo Levy died in Rome in 1989. Today we remember him on what would have been his 90th birthday.

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Ulrich Bruckner, film producer, author of "Für ein paar Leichen mehr" and Director of Home Entertainment & Film Acquisitions at Koch Media GmbH head of the home cinema department at KOCH Video, has left to become Director of Acquisitions at SONY as of the first of August. After vacationing with his family for a few weeks he will relocate from Germany to Los Angeles, California. We all wish to thank Ulrich for the great releases he was responsilbe for KOCH releasing over the years and wish him all the best in his new position with SONY.

At one time Luigi Pistilli was one of Italy's most respected actors of stage, screen, and television. In theater, he was considered one of the country's best interpreters of Bertolt Brecht's plays; indeed, his most famous roles were in “The Three Penny Opera” and “St. Joan of the Stockyards”. Pistilli studied acting at Milan's Piccolo Teatro, graduating in 1955. He never completely severed his ties with the theater and often returned to appear in plays directed by Giorgio Strehler. Pistilli made his feature film debut with an uncredited role in “Dark Passage” (1947). He often appeared in such Spaghetti Westerns as “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” (1966) ”For a Few Dollars More” (1965), and “The Great Silence” (1968). Pistilli's television career included a regular role on the popular Mafia drama “The Octopus”. Pistilli committed suicide in his Milan home just before appearing in the final production of Terrace Rattigan's “Tosca” on April 21, 1996. The show had been harshly panned by critics and audiences and this apparently threw Pistilli into a deep depression. He was already suffering from the death of his son a few years before and according to his suicide note, Pistilli had suffered even deeper despair after making some bitter public comments regarding the recent termination of a four-year off-stage relationship with singer/actress Milva, with whom he was co-starring in “Tosca”. We remember Luigi Pistilli today on what would have been his 80th birthday.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Alvaro de Luna was seen in many Spaghetti Westerns during the height of the genre. Looking often as he did above as one of the Mexican bounty hunters who try and capture Tuco before Clint steps in and claims for his own. Below is a picture taken this past May at a homage for Spanish director Montxo Armendáriz

Character actor Tullio Altmura was born July 18, 1924 in Bologna, Italy. He appeared in over 50 films. He began his career on TV in the late 1950s. He would go on to appear in several sword and sandal and other action and adventure films sometimes using the pseudonym Tor Altmayer. Tullio appeared in 9 Spaghetti Westerns the most famous being 1967’s “Wanted” as Ellis with Giuliani Gemma. I’m sure I have read that Tullio has passed away but cannot find any corroboration so we will celebrate his 85th birthday.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Italian actress Francesca Romana Coluzzi passed away on July 15th in her home in Rome of lung cancer, she was 66. Although a fine dramatic actress, Coluzzi, as she was called by everyone including her daughters, will have her named eternally linked to the image she left in her comedy sex films of the ‘70s and ‘80s. In complete contrast to this image she created the Rome Teatrale Labobatory in 1985, which soon became nell'Associazione Culturale Minestrone d’Arte the Association of Art Cultural Minestrone which she continued to head until her death. Francesca appeared in two Euro-westerns “Sting of the West” (1972) and “Karate, Fists and Beans” (1973).

PORTLAND, Ore. - While the iconography of Death riding a horse may have been introduced in Revelation 6:8 (And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him), it’s certain that very few have attempted to conjure up exactly what sort of musical score would best accompany the Grim Reaper’s equestrian joyrides.But alas, there are a few here in the Northwest who have dove head first into such a task, and they are the folks at Filmusik.

Ever ambitious, Filmusik has moved from its previous science-fiction efforts with “The Superman Orchestra” and “Plan 9 from Outer Space” to another genre: the spaghetti-western, which is a category of westerns that were filmed in Italy and Spain but released in the United States. In an effort to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the film’s release, Filmusik has retooled the soundtrack to the spaghetti-western classic “Death Rides a Horse”.

It is the story of Bill (played by John Phillip Law), a man who has sworn revenge upon the men who murdered his family before his very eyes as a child. Along the way, Bill teams up with the mysterious Ryan (played by spaghetti western standard Lee Van Cleef), and the two strike out to settle their respective scores. Along the way, strange and shady people are encountered, many others die in shoot-outs and good and evil collide head on.

Like “The Superman Orchestra” and “Plan 9 from Outer Space,” “Death Rides a Horse” features an original score, this time composed by Sam L. Richards and Gracin Dorsey of the Eugene Contemporary Chamber Ensemble and showcases the talents of the Opera Theatre Oregon chorus, adding an entirely new component to the score.

Unlike those past two works, “Death Rides a Horse” will feature the film’s original dialogue. According to Filmusik founder Galen Huckins, “We've removed the soundtrack and are using the original dialog in the film.This is dramatically a very serious film and a very well made one. We considered dubbing the film (many of the Italian speaking characters in the film are dubbed for the American release), but we wanted to use the film in its original format given the dramatic strength that it has.”

While respecting the roots of composition for spaghetti westerns, Filmusik’s score utilizes many of the same instruments that composers such as Ennio Morricone used in previous spaghetti-western scores, such as the Tremolo guitar, choir and extensive percussion, while at the same time breaking new ground by using the instruments in different ways than other composers have used them.

Filmusik’s trailer for “Death Rides a Horse” states that, “When you’ve waited 15 years to find a man, it’s a shame you can only kill him once.” Fortunately, if you’ve waited 40 years to see “Death Rides a Horse” on the big screen with an original score backed by a symphony and a chorus, you have two opportunities this Wednesday and Friday at The Hollywood Theatre.

Chaco, a young Mexican peon, is waiting to be hanged in American territory because he has been accused, unjustly, to have seduced a girl, Susanna. He succeeds in escaping and returns to Saint Rosario, Mexico, Slim, an obstinate bounty hunter, means to bring him back to the United States and collect the reward being offered. Before Slim can put his plan into play, Chaco again is unjustly accused, of the killing of two men. The gunman begins to realize that Chaco is completely innocent of these crimes. It is Don Felipe Morena, a rich and overbearing land owner, who is using the bandit Sanchez to kill for him and put the blame on Chaco. Slim arrives at the small farm of Don Felipe, but finds that he has been killed by Sanchez. Determined to punish him, Slim and Chaco team-up and face Sanchez and his gang and exterminating them all and returning peace to the countryside.

Born Jorge Hill Acosta y Lara on July 16, 1934 in Montevideo, Uruguay. Hilton began his career as an extra with bit parts in several South American films in the mid-fifties. In 1967 he appeared to great effect as ‘The Stranger’ in “Any Gun Can Play” with Edd Byrnes and Gilbert Roland. He went on to become one of the major stars of the Spaghetti Western era, eventually playing ‘Sartana’ in the last film of the series “I Am Sartana, Trade Your Guns for a Coffin” when Gianni Garko left the part. Besides westerns Hilton appeared in giallo films and in more conventional crime, horror and action films when the spaghetti western craze ended. Although not active since 1999, George appeared in the 2007 film “Natale in crociera”. Today we celebrate George Hilton’s 75th birthday.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

In town for the Taipei Film Festival, German director Helma Sanders-Brahms talks about her fondness for Taiwan, her frustrating experiences with filmmaking in Germany and how she finally came around to liking Johannes Brahms’ music

TT: How did you come to know Pier Paolo Pasolini in 1969?

HS: There were two European countries that made beautiful films at that time: France and Italy. In Italy, there were two successful kinds of films. On one side of the spectrum, there is art-house cinema and Pasolini. On the other side, there are spaghetti westerns.

I went down to Italy to conduct interviews for a television show. I met Pasolini, and he immediately told me, “You are going to make films.” I didn’t know why and how, but he saw that in me and offered me a place on the set of Medea.

I also worked with the spaghetti western people. I was a handyperson. I learned and helped wherever I could, and the crew called me “the German spy” [laughs]. It was my film school — and an extremely good one.

Sergio Corbucci [an Italian director best known for his spaghetti westerns] was a very nice guy and a friend of Pasolini. It was kind of like a big family back then. Pasolini was a dark, gloomy guy. Corbucci was sensual and happy. It was a nice balance to me.

In the town of Limerick ruled by Bear Bullock and his gunman Killer Kissick they enforce a rule of terror without equal in the Wild West. After a number of gunmen hired by the townspeople fail to stand up to Bullock, Meriwether P. Newberry, a mild-mannered travelling inventor, comes to town with his latest invention a robot named “The Bang Bang Kid”. With the help of the townspeople and the mechanical man they try and turn the medieval rule of Bullock back to normal. Problems develop when the robot continues to break-down just before the fateful showdown with Kissick. Meriwether puts on Bang-Bang’s clothes and faces Kissick alone. The town recognizes his bravery and how they are cowards. They stand-up and join Newberry and chase Bullock and his gang out of town.

Born Patrick John Wayne on July 15, 1939 in Los Angeles, California, he is the son of legendary actor John Wayne and his first wife Josephine Alicia Saenz. He made over 40 films in his career, including nine with his father. Among them were two Euro-westerns “The Deserter” 1971 and “Rustler’s Rhapsody” (1984). He would also host two TV game shows along with making several appearances on TV series. In 2003 he became chairman of the John Wayne Cancer Institute. Today we wish him a happy 70th birthday.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Viennese actor Heinrich Schweiger died today, Tuesday, July 14 at noon in a Salzburg hospital, of heart failure due to heavy bleeding in the brain, he was 77. The Burgtheater honor member belonged to the acting group since 1949 and played many classical roles of world literature suchas Shakespeare’s “Othello” and Richard III and appeared in “Don Carlos”.

Schweiger was born July 23, 1931 in Vienna and studied there at the Max Reinhardt seminar. He debuted at the age of 18 at the Burgtheater. Schweiger, which was awarded the Kainz medal among other things, and participated for many years in the Salzburger festivals and was seen in numerous television programs and films. Among his cinema successes among other things were leading roles in "Franz Schubert - ein unvollendetes Leben” (1957) and Franz Antel’s film series "Der Bockerer". Schweiger appeared in one Euro-western “Cry of the Black Wolves” (1972).

Ángel del Pozo was born on July 14, 1934 in Madrid, Spain. Attending college he combined his studies with amateur stage performances until he decided to pursue an acting career on a fulltime basis. His debut in films came in 1960 and he would become a regular in Spaghetti Westerns during the 1960s and 1970s with over 30 appearances. He moved on to the role of director in the 1970s with four films. Afterwards he decided to retire from the industry. From the 1990s until the present he has continued in production work and public relations for Gestavision and as the manager of the TV station Telecinco. His most remembered role was probably as She(m)p Miller in 1967’s “The Big Gundown” where he ended up with the knife of Cuchillo buried in his forehead. Today we celebrate his 75th birthday.

Adalberto ‘Bitto’ Albertini was born on July 14, 1924, in Turin, Italy. He entered the film industry as an operations assistant on some films during World War II. In 1946 he was a camera operator on the film “Addio, mia bella Napoli” with director Mario Bonnard. He then became a director of photography and continued in this profession until 1965. He then decided to turn his attention to direction which he did until 1985 hiding behind several pseudonyms such as Al Albert, Ben Norman, Albert Thomas, Stanley Mitchell, Ben Norman and Albert J. Walker. During his years as a director he specialized in making period, sword and sandal, action and erotic films such as “Black Emmanuelle” in 1974 with Laura Gemser. She became a star and was not available when “Black Emmanuelle II” was filmed which was a flop. Albertini’s career was basically finished at this point and he finished up with two ‘Mondo’ films. Adalberto’s Euro-westerns were “A Stranger in Sacramento” (1965) as screenwriter, “The Twilight Avengers” (1970) and “The Return of Shanghai Joe” (1974) as director and screenwriter. Adalberto Albertini died on February 22, 1999. Today we celebrate what would have been his 85th birthday.

Born Angiolino Giuseppe Pasquale Ventura on July 14, 1919 in Parma, Italy he dropped out of school at the age of eight and took on a variety of jobs. He was pursuing a
prizefighting and wrestling career when he had to forgo further matches do to an injury. In 1953 he entered the film industry appearing in Jacques Becker’s gangster film “Touche pas au grisbi”. This was followed up by appearances in a number of similar roles and films. Some of his most famous roles were in “The Three Penny Opera” (1963) and “The Valachi Papers”. Living in France most of his life his voice was dubbed for those films released in his native Italy. Not until 1983’s “Cento giorno a Palermo” that he made a film in his native language. He created a foundation in 1966 called “Snowdrop” that helps handicapped people. Ventura appeared in two Euro-westerns “Weeping for a Bandit” (1963) and “Far West” (1972). He was active in films until his sudden death on October 22, 1987 in Saint-Cloud, France from a heart attack. Today we celebrate what would have been his 90th birthday.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Released by Wild East #WE032A double billKill or Be Killed (Uccidi o muori, 1967)theatrical version in its original aspect ratio: 2:35 16x9 Anamorphic English languageExtra: Picture GalleryKill the Wicked! (Dio non paga il sabato, 1967)theatrical version in its original aspect ratio: 2:35 16x9 Anamorphic English languageExtra: Picture Gallery, Italian and English trailersBoth films directed by Amerigo Anton and starring Robert MarkNow Available!

Luigi Capuano was born on July 13, 1904 and served as a pilot during World War II. He then worked as a sports journalist after returning from the war. He directed and wrote screenplays for 43 films between 1947 and 1971 specializing in period, costume, sword and sandal and action films. He sometimes used the pseudonym Lewis King. His films were always technically sound which was a witness to his technical mastery of his craft. Capuano directed several Zorro films in the early 1960s and was also the director of 1967’s “The Magnificent Texan” and 1968’s “Blood Calls to Blood”. No record of his death has been discovered which would make him 105 years-old today.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Giampiero Albertini was born on December 20, 1927 in Muggio, Milan, Italy. He was a stage, film and voice actor known for his Italian dubbing of Peter Falk’s Colombo character. He had both major and minor roles in films especially crime films in the 1970s. He became a familiar face to the Italian theater goers, appearing in such films as “La vita di Leonardo Da Vinci” (1972), “Il Moro, A come Andromeda” (1972), “Lungo il fiume e sull'acqua” (1973), “I promessi sposi” (1989). He had a memorable performance appearing with Nino Manfredi and Gastone Moschin in the successful 1968 comedy “Italian Secret Service” in the role of Inspector Enci which bore a striking resemblance to the character he dubbed, Colombo. He would later become famous for his television advertisements for household electrical appliances. He is remembered by Spaghetti Western fans as Joe McIntock in “The Return of Sabata” (1971) starring Lee Van Cleef and as Fred Duskin who escapes from prison with Alex Cord in “A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die” (1967). He would go on to claim fame as Mr. Barezzi in the hit TV series “Verdi” (1982). Giampiero Albertini died of a heart attack on May 14, 1991 in Rome at the age of 63.

Luis is the only survivor of an attack by bandits on his boarding school. Chaos rocks the Mexican countryside during the 1910 revolution, and the boy is happy to have survived. Before he can get away and head towards home, he encounters another group of bandits. These are pre-teens who scavenge places looted by adult bandits. Thinking that by joining them his chances of returning home will be better, Luis' arrival makes the group a quartet. They soon become fast friends, bound together by their many adventures and their need to fend off the lethal bullying of the adult bandits, in particular the gang led by the sadistic Cacho. Before long, the kid bandits are wreaking havoc in the countryside all on their own. ~ Clarke Fountain,

Friday, July 10, 2009

Mike Ferguson dropped me an e-mail to let me know Here’s your chance to see a Spaghetti western actor up close and personal.

Renzo Arbore who appeared in not one but two Miles Deem classic Spaghetti Westerns “A Fistful of Death” and “Showdown for a Badman” both in 1971 will appear at the Niagra Fallsview Casino Resort on July 25th at 9:00 p.m. and again on July 26th at 7:00 p.m.

Arbore an Italian actor and TV personality, is also an accomplished jazz musician. He has played jazz clarinet for many years, and is the founder of the Orchestra Italian, a group hoping to make Italian music more popular worldwide.

Legendary stuntman Whitey Hughes passed away at his home in his sleep on July 7th. No matter how you look at it, stuntman, Robert "Whitey" Hughes' life can be described as one part Huck Finn and one part Mr. Hughes goes to Hollywood. Whitey has been a staple in the medium, working in over 40 different television series from the early 1950's to the present. Some of the work which he is most proud, includes his time as stunt coordinator/stuntman/actor for The Wild Wild West with Robert Conrad and Ross Martin, produced by Bruce Lansbury. Born Robert James Huges on November 9, 1920 in Arkoma, Oklahoma he grew up on a ranch with his brother Bill who would also become a stuntman in later life. Moving to Hollywood in 1936 and graduated from high school. He found his way into the film business in 1947.

Because of his small size Whitey was often called upon to double for women in these early days and would eventually do stunts for such luminaries as Rita Hayworth, Stephanie Powers, Barbara Hershey, Anne Baxter, Lana Turner, Kathleen Crowley and Virginia Mayo. Whitey was Johnny Crawford's double for four years on TV's "Rifleman" as well as Bobby Diamond's double during the run of the "Fury" TV series.

Whitey also worked on "U.S. Marshal", "Californians", "MacKenzie's Raiders", "Black Saddle", "WyattEarp", "Lassie", "Rawhide", "Bonanza", "Monroes", "Hondo", "Gunsmoke" ... and hundreds more including work for both Roy [Rogers] and Gene [Autry] on their respective series. His multitude of work is only highlighted in this article. For terrific stunt viewing, I recommend watching Whitey in action in almost every episode of "The Wild Wild West", which he coordinated for four seasons ('65-'68). Whitey and his stunt crew do some amazing action sequences.

Whitey was an active stuntman for 50 years. He was awarded a Golden Boot Award in 2002. Whitey Hughes passed away at home in his sleep on July 7, 2009, he was 87. Whitey was regarded as one of the greatest stuntmen of all time and one of the nicest gentlemen you would ever hope to meet. Whitey performed stunts in the 1969 Euro-western "Guns for San Sebastian".

Silver rattlesnake inspired by the greatest westerns ever!It won't get more authentic than this!

The silver rattlesnake was originally made by the late Andy Anderson for Clint Eastwood, who always brought his own guns and gunbelt to the movie set. Eastwood was fond of his Colt 45 with the pure silver rattlesnake in mid-strike, as it was a potent symbol of his character's deadly sharp shooting finesse with a pistol. He used these guns on Rawhide and brought the grips over to Italy when filming the “Dollar” trilogy.

We have a replica of the silver rattlesnake for you in a set for the left and right side of your favorite pistol or it can be purchased singly for either side. We've made it simple. They're designed to surface mount. You only need to drill 5 small holes in your grip for the pins on the back of the rattlesnake. They're thin and light. Each one is only a sixteenth of an inch thick. It's super easy! You'll need a 1/16th inch drill bit and a little epoxy glue. For the women fast draw fans, the silver rattlesnake can be ordered as a pendant! $120 each or $185 for the pair!

“The only spaghetti western directed by Giuseppe Maria Scotese, in the 60s mainly known as a director of adventure movies and – especially – great documentaries. His name also appears as producer on the credits of Mateo Cano’s L’Ultimo dei Mohicani, and he is also named in relation to a script, written by Bruno Corbucci and Mario Amendola, for a movie called La lunga strada per Chihuaha (Que viva Mexico!) that should have been directed by him, but that was never realized. Possibly this script was also the starting point for this movie, Lungo giorno della violenza/El Bandito Malpelo. It must be said that this mysterious production seems to exist more on paper than as an actual film, because nobody saw it when it was first released, nor did anybody see it afterwards. It’s clear that this movie about a bandit called Malpelo, played by Eduardo Fajardo, set in Revolutionary Mexico, is mainly a Spanish production, with a considerable part of the Spanish spaghetti western force supporting it, in the first place Eduardo Manzanos Brochero as producer/screenwriter, the duo Calicia-Cubero signing for the production design and a lot of familiar faces in the cast. The story is about a young revolutionary called Diego Mendoza, who’s is looking for Pancho Villa, because he has some important documents for him. He is persecuted by the federales, and in the middle of the desert, he is captured by the bandit Malpelo. But when Malpelo finds out what is going on, he decides to help the young man fulfill his mission. Absolutely nothing is known of actor George Carvell, the film’s protagonist. It’s also the third film of the beautiful Charo Lopez, who would end up in the cast of Amaldovar’s Kika. Spanish critic Carlos Aguilar calls the film “insignificant”.” – Marco Giusti

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

If you continue to drive down the dirt road from San Jose, Spain, past the “A Pistol for Ringo” windmill you will come to a public beach which features a huge boulder about 50 yards off shore. This boulder was seen in “The Wind and the Lion” opposite the boulder and the beach is the government park headquarters and across from it is a flat area with a few decaying rock walls and what looks like a well. These are the remains of the fort which was seen in the beginning of the film "Shalako". In this area of Spain it seems like there is a film location around every bend in the road and over every hill.

About Me

Born in Toledo, Ohio in 1946 I have a BA degree in American History from Cal St. Northridge. I've been researching the American West and western films since the early 1980s and visiting filming sites in Spain and the U.S.A. Elected a member of the Spaghetti Western Hall of Fame 2010.